TNAG-2193-FCO40-3130-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 242

三

掌

RESTRICTED

people in the public and private sectors the confidence to remain in

Under this scheme full Hong Kong (copy of statement attached).

British passports will be offered to a maximum of 50,000 heads of household in the public and private sectors, without the beneficiary having to leave the territory. The necessary legislation will be introduced at the earliest opportunity (if possible before the Easter recess).

16. Despite some inevitable disappointment over numbers, the initial reaction in Hong Kong to the announcement of the package was a cautious welcome. However, the Chinese Government have made a

a violation number of unhelpful statements denouncing the scheme as

of the Joint Declaration and a device to maintian British influence after 1997. They have also tried to undermine the scheme by indicating that recipients of British passports would not be eligible for British consular protection in Hong Kong after 1997 and by extending the nationality qualifications for posts in the SAR Government laid down in the Basic Law.

17. Since announcing our nationality package, we have been taking every opportunity to encourage our partners and allies, especially those with close social and economic ties with Hong Kong, to

The results so far have been consider taking similar measures.

mixed but it is too early to give a considered assessment.

Vietnamese Boat People

18.

There are still over 55,000 Vietnamese boat people in Hong

Some 11,400 Kong, with the prospect of a fruther influx this year.

The

are refugees and are eligible to be resettled in the West. remainder are subject to the screening process: some 6,700 have already been determined not to be refugees and await return to Vietnam. So far some 1400 people have returned to Vietnam voluntarily (but only 100 of these have come from those definitively screened out). 51 non-volunteers were returned on 12 December 1989. Lord Ennals and Timothy Raison MP visited Vietnam in January to report on the return of the non-volunteers and established that they were not being subjected to any ill treatment.

RESTRICTED